From March 27 to April 2, 2019, the Korea Foundation dispatched 100 young Green Corps volunteers to China to participate in a tree planting drive. The “2019 Korea-China Green Corps Dispatch Program” was jointly held with Korean NGO Future Forest. The delegation included Green Corps volunteers, local villagers and the former UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, who was recently appointed as head of a newly established national agency tackling fine dust.

After arriving at the Kubuqi Desert in Inner Mongolia, Mr. Ban joined Korean and Chinese youths in planting trees. In an interview with members of the group, he said that the prevention of desertification is of global interest and emphasized the urgent need to address global environmental issues such as yellow dust. Ban also affirmed his resolve using his extensive experience to play an important role in tackling these issues.

For about a decade, South Korean companies and organizations, including Future Forest, have implemented a campaign to plant trees in the Kubuqi Desert to prevent further desertification and transform the desert into an inhabitable place. The number of trees planted so far recently reached 1,050 in total, including 800 trees planted by the Green Corps volunteers this year.

In addition to the tree planting drive, the Korean youths exchanged opinions with their Chinese counterparts through the 25th Korea-China Youth Forum, the “Global Citizen Education” program and other discussion forums.